Welcome Back from ICO
A new academic year means new projects, new responsibilities, new employees, new partnerships and plenty of decisions to make.
Most of those decisions will never feel like “compliance decisions.”
But compliance is found in the everyday moments of university work: deciding whether you have authority to approve something, determining whether an outside activity should be disclosed, protecting information, working through an unfamiliar policy requirement or deciding what to do when something simply does not feel right.
As we begin another year at VCU, the Integrity and Compliance Office wants to make one part of that process easier:
A Quick Compliance Check for the New Year
As you settle back into your work, a few simple questions can help identify situations where it may be worth slowing down, checking a policy or asking for guidance:
- Is there a university policy that applies to what I am doing?
- Am I sure I have the authority to make this decision or commitment on behalf of VCU?
- Could a personal, financial or outside relationship create—or appear to create—a conflict with my VCU responsibilities?
- Am I handling university information, records or resources appropriately?
- Have the right offices or subject-matter experts been included before we move forward?
- Would I be comfortable explaining this decision and how it was made?
- Is someone raising a concern or asking a question? Are we creating an environment where they can do that without fear of retaliation?
- If I am unsure, have I asked for help before acting?
Compliance Is a Partnership
ICO’s role extends beyond responding when something has gone wrong.
Our work includes helping the university develop and maintain effective policies, review and investigate concerns and work with compliance partners throughout VCU to create an environment where employees can seek guidance early rather than feeling that they need to navigate these topics alone.
When Should You Reach Out?
There does not have to be a crisis before you contact ICO.
Reach out when you have even a simple question about a policy or compliance requirement. Reach out when you are unsure about the right process. Reach out when you want help thinking through a potential risk. And reach out when you believe something may need to be reported.
Sometimes the answer may belong with another university office. That is okay, too. Part of our role is helping connect members of the VCU community with the people and resources best positioned to help.
As everyone settles into the semester, we encourage you to think of integrity and compliance not simply as requirements, but as part of how we care for one another, protect the university and make responsible decisions together.
Welcome back, Rams. We look forward to another year of working at VCU, with VCU and beyond to strengthen our university community built on integrity, accountability and care.